2017 Ford Transit Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 107,236 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Ford Transit Connect, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 85.2% was above the average for vans of a similar age (82.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 18.5% in the 150k+ group versus 9.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 8,020 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.5% | 6,982 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.0% | 5,340 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 5,146 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 1,695 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 1,626 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 4,528 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 4,344 |
| 3 | Wipers | 3,470 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,323 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,471 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,403 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.6% | 28,467 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 19,889 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.0% | 9,631 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 7,853 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.6% | 7,083 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.8% | 4,041 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 6,806 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 28,136 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 33,926 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 22,884 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 10,605 | 17.1% |
| 150k+ | 4,864 | 18.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 105,481 | 14.8% |
| Petrol | 1,735 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,678 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 21,673 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 21,482 | 14.9% |
| 2024 | 21,326 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 21,077 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Transit Connect
Before buying a 2017 Ford Transit Connect, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (5.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Ford Transit Connects pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 107,236 2017 Ford Transit Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Transit Connect?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by tyres (6.5%).
Does the 2017 Transit Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 18.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 107,236 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.